about this length

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about this length" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a measurement or approximation of length in a descriptive context. Example: "The document should be approximately about this length to fit the required specifications."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Experience shows that most adopters need about this length of time to come to terms with the nature and consequences of making a lifetime commitment to a child.

The Guardian - Opinion

He explained: "The thing about this length that I've particularly come to like is that you can get the impact of a novel, which arises from its complexity and the thoroughness of detail, but you can also get the impact you get from a short story, because a good reader can keep the whole thing in mind.

The New York Times - Books

In our mouse model, abnormal phosphorylated α-synuclein pathology was also detected at 90 days after injection (Fig. 4 and Table 1), suggesting that it takes about this length of time for the formation of abnormal phosphorylated α-synuclein pathology in vivo after the seeding procedure.

Brain

Later, you may want to extend this to around 30 minutes - many regular groups will do multiple sessions of about this length, perhaps interspersed with walking meditation.

WikiHow

Generally, peace lilies should be re-potted every 1-2 yearso so if it's been about this length of time and you notice some of the above symptoms, your plant is a likely candidate for re-potting.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The value of 167 bp corresponds approximately to the sum of the length of a nucleosome core (147 bp) and the length of the linker-histone-binding region (20 bp), and 84 bp corresponds to about half this length.

BMC Genomics

The peduncle of the chelicera (Fig.  7c) is approximately equal in length to the fixed ramus (Table  2), while the free ramus is about half this length (Fig.  7a, b).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Add about an inch to this length and cut about 3 of these layers.

WikiHow

Larson talked about this at length on that night.

The New York Times

I talked about this at length in my December 2003 column.

MIT Technology Review

There are blogs and forums online where people speculate about this at length.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "about this length" when providing an estimated or approximate measurement, especially when precision is not critical.

Common error

Avoid using "about this length" when a precise measurement is required. Instead, provide an exact value or a specific range.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about this length" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun, specifying an estimated dimension or extent. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s grammatically correct and used to describe approximate measurements.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

40%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "about this length" is a grammatically correct way to indicate an approximate measurement. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it’s most commonly found in news articles, wikis, and scientific texts. When precision is needed, consider more exact alternatives such as "approximately this long". While "about this length" is useful in a variety of contexts, understanding its level of precision ensures accurate and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more or less this length

Suggests a degree of variability around the specified length, allowing for slight deviations.

around this length

Replaces "about" with "around", providing a slightly more informal and conversational tone.

approximately this long

Uses "long" instead of "length", focusing on the linear extent, and uses "approximately" for a more formal tone.

of roughly this length

Substitutes "about" with "of roughly", emphasizing an estimated measurement.

close to this length

Indicates that the length is similar and near a certain measurement.

nearly this length

Uses "nearly" instead of "about" to suggest that the length is close to, but not exactly, a certain measurement.

in the vicinity of this length

Replaces "about" with "in the vicinity of", adding a more formal and precise tone.

on the order of this length

Emphasizes a general magnitude of length, rather than a precise measurement.

in this general length range

Indicates that the length falls within a specific range, providing more flexibility than a single point.

comparable to this length

Focuses on comparing the length to a known standard, rather than specifying the length directly.

FAQs

How can I use "about this length" in a sentence?

You can use "about this length" to indicate an estimated measurement, as in "The cable should be "about this length" to reach the outlet".

What's a more formal alternative to "about this length"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "approximately this long" or "of roughly this length".

Is it appropriate to use "about this length" in scientific writing?

While acceptable, using more precise terms like "approximately this long" or specifying a range might be preferred in scientific writing to enhance accuracy.

What's the difference between "about this length" and "exactly this length"?

"About this length" indicates an approximation, while "exactly this length" specifies a precise measurement. Use "exactly this length" when precision is necessary.